Meggitt employees join forces with the military to provide toys for Rockmart’s Empty Stocking Fund. From left, front, Barry Winters, Capt. Michelle Cooper, Vaden Underwood with the Brown Wright Post 12 American Legion, Staff Sgt. Andy Schwake, Spc. Matthew Frisby, CWO2 Mike Culver; left, back, David Pinkard, Ron Campbell with the American Legion, Staff Sgt. Dallas Cornette Jr., Sgt. Scott A Rager, and Master Sgt. Eric Bradley. (Melody Dareing/thepolkfishwrap.com)
“Times are tough for everyone,” said Staff Sgt. Andy Schwake, who has volunteered for the drive since its inception.
“We are impressed with the generosity of these folks.”
The generosity of Meggitt employees netted 300 toys and $2,100 for the Empty Stocking Fund, he said.
The Brown-Wright Post 12 of the American Legion delivers the toys collected to local needy families.
Post 12 Commander Vaden Underwood said the drive does a lot to make the Christmas of around 100 families, equating to around 200 children, a little brighter.
“We keep it here. This is for our community,” Underwood said.
Schwake said the cash helps buy gifts that are needed, but not donated.
“The toys are matched to the selected applicant. There are shortcomings and the cash is used to fill those voids,” he said.
Some of those voids come in buying gifts for teenagers. Most teens want more expensive gifts that aren’t donated, so the cash helps to get the right gift for the right teen, Schwake said.
Underwood said being a part of the program leaves him with a good feeling.
“To have parents come in to get gifts for their children when they would not have any,” he said, “to see the look on the parent’s face is a thrill to see.”
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